Source: Arabic
The case of the kidnapping of the Egyptian citizen, Sadiq Roman Sadiq Gabriel, during the filming of episodes of the series “Baloo’ Al-Rouh”, in which senior actors participate, in the Baalbek region, eastern Lebanon, has been interacting for several days, amid rumors spreading that the goal of the operation was Ilham Shaheen and Menna Shalaby, which is what Well-informed sources denied it.
A Lebanese security source confirmed to Al Arabiya.net that the kidnapper was identified, and that the Lebanese army carried out raids in the vicinity of the area to arrest and liberate them.
He also revealed, “The army carried out several raids in the Al-Sharawneh neighborhood in Baalbek, in search of the kidnapped one, who works as an accountant for the “Al-Sabah” company for artistic and cinematic production, and the arrest of the kidnapper.” He pointed out that security had identified a number of gang members, and it was found that they were monitoring Romani’s movements during filming, and they are among those with precedents in the area and are wanted with dozens of arrest warrants.
Most Wanted Neighborhood
The mention of Al-Sharawneh neighborhood in the city of Baalbek has always been associated with the security chaos and the raids of the Lebanese army to free the kidnapped Lebanese and non-Lebanese.
The neighborhood, which is located at the entrance to Baalbek, is home to the most wanted men and those with previous criminal records, and the Lebanese army erects permanent checkpoints at its entrances.
He was kidnapped with money
The production company, “Al-Sabah”, had made it clear in a previous statement that the kidnapped employee was working for it, and that the producer was following up on the circumstances of the case in coordination with the security services.
In the context, sources within the “Al-Sabah” company confirmed to Al-Arabiya.net: “Romani always carried sums of money with him in order to pay the costs of filming, but she did not specify the value of the amount he had on the day of the kidnapping, because she did not know his worth.”
No ransom demand
She also explained that the accountant left Baalbek with the company’s driver (he always accompanies the team on its travels in Lebanon) after completing filming scenes in which actress Menna Shalaby participated and after he participated in a breakfast at the hotel where the work team resides in the city.
And she pointed out that she “has not yet received any call from the kidnapper asking for a ransom in exchange for his release.”
Serial shooting continues
However, she confirmed, “The filming of scenes of the rising of the soul continues in Baalbek, despite the forced stop for one day imposed by the kidnapping incident.”
Kidnapped Menna Shalaby and Elham Shaheen?
While it was reported that the kidnappers’ goal was to kidnap one of the series’ actresses, Menna Shalaby or Ilham Shaheen, in order to request a high ransom, given that they are first-class actresses in Egypt and the Arab world, “Al-Sabah” sources denied this, and suggested that “money would be the only reason.” behind the kidnapping of the accountant.
It is noteworthy that filming “Baloo’ Al-Rouh” began in the city of Baalbek before the month of Ramadan, while the work team was distributed to more than one hotel in the region in order to film specific scenes from the series, which, according to “Al-Sabah” sources, will be completed before Eid Al-Fitr.
The hidden practices of ISIS
The series discusses the secrets and practices of ISIS, and its events revolve around a woman who is deceived by her husband and lures her from Egypt to an ISIS den in Syria, and when she tries to escape, she ends up in a camp for escapees from the organization.
It stars Menna Shalaby, Ilham Shaheen, Ahmed El-Saadani, Mohamed Hatem, and Adel Karam, written by Mohamed Hisham Obeya, and directed by Kamila Abu Zekry.